Bloomberg calls the Russian businessman and one of the country's richest people, Dmitry Mazepin, one of the main beneficiaries of the extension of the "grain deal" between Russia, the United Nations (UN), Turkey and Ukraine. The publication believes that he can act as one of the lobbyists for new conditions for the continuation of the "grain deal", since before the war Mazepin's companies occupied one of the leading positions in the world in the supply of fertilizers.
One of the conditions for the extension of the "grain deal" is a guarantee of safety for the operation of the pipeline from Togliatti to Odessa, through which Mazepin's Togliattiazot company supplied ammonia to foreign markets. Another of the conditions for the continuation of the “grain deal” on the part of Russia was the release of more than 300 thousand tons of fertilizers seized in European ports belonging to another company of Mazepin, Uralchem.
“Mazepin, known to the world before the war only as the father of former Forumla-1 racer Nikita, who was expelled from the American Haas F1 Team after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now appears to the world as the head of the fertilizer empire he founded,” this is how the agency presents Russian businessman, against whom sanctions have been imposed by the EU and the United States.
The publication also hints at the closeness of the businessman to the highest echelons of power. As evidence, Bloomberg points to Mazepin's participation in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before the invasion, as well as close ties to the head of the Rostec state corporation, Sergei Chemezov, with whom Putin served in the KGB together in Dresden. Chemezov, for example, holds the post of general director at Uralkali, a subsidiary of Uralkhim. Mazepin's fortune is estimated by the agency at about $900 million.
Bloomberg notes that the final terms of the extension of the deal are still not approved, so there is no immediate high benefit to speak of yet, but Russia, as the agency notes, is sending signals that a consensus can be found. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke about this, in particular. However, the minister insisted not only on simplifying the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers, but also on lifting sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, which the EU and the US actively oppose.
“Obviously, from the point of view of global food availability and prices, ensuring the export of grain from the Black Sea and fertilizers from Russia would be a very positive factor for the poorest countries in the world. However, this would help the Russian economy a lot, ”Tim Benton, director of emerging risk research at the royal institute Chatham House, quotes Bloomberg.
According to the agency, Dmitry Mazepin took control of Togliattiaz just before the invasion of Ukraine. For 13 years, there were lengthy litigations – the previous owners of the company were accused of fraud, and at the beginning of the year the court declared them bankrupt, which allowed Mazepin's structures to gain control over the enterprise. Togliattiazot, according to the agency, increased the export capacity of the businessman's empire by 30%, but without control over the pipeline to Odessa, these assets are simply useless.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also spoke about the importance for the Russian side of the launch of this pipeline, according to him, guarantees for the operation of the pipeline could become a key element in extending the grain deal. However, the issue rests on the position of the Ukrainian side. President Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the prospects for launching the pipeline, linked its work with the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war to their homeland. Experts believe that such a "non-economic" condition is included in order to reduce possible pressure on the Ukrainian side when resolving other issues.
The current grain agreement between Russia, the UN, Turkey and Ukraine is valid until November 19, at the moment the parties continue negotiations to extend the deal. The Russian side was previously unilaterally ready to withdraw from the agreement after the drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet, but subsequently changed its mind and returned to fulfilling its obligations. The agreement assumes that the parties undertake to create conditions that could help export Russian and Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports without threats. The export of fertilizers was not included in the deal, although the Russian side tried to lobby for this item. Russia and the UN agreed to create favorable conditions for the export of fertilizers, but the signed memorandum of understanding has no binding force for the parties.